Posted on Apr. 14, 2021
We all know that our mindset determines how we feel and, in turn, what we believe we're capable of. But why does that matter so much? As a success coach, we have conversations with people every day about what being successful means. We're all in this thing called ‘life’ together and what a ride we're on! In the middle of the madness and mayhem, the peaks and troughs, the lessons and laughter, and the triumphs and tragedy, is the complex you.
By the time you're an adult, you're an expert on how to judge yourself. You might find that you're being self-critical to the point of sabotage without even realising you're doing it. Your beliefs and values started to evolve from the day you were born. If you aren’t where you would like to be in life right now, it’s likely that there are a number of factors at play, with the most significant being your belief in your personal potential.
Psychiatrist and Harvard Medical School Professor, John Sharp, calls it our autobiographical narrative – the story we tell ourselves about who we are and how everything always plays out. The author of The insight cure: change your story, transform your life explains in his TED Talk (09:08): “Some emotionally difficult scenes are way over-included – just think of all the things you can’t let go of – and other scenes are deleted, such as times when maybe things did go well. This personal documentary becomes our inner truth, yet it’s a distortion from childhood”. He adds that this narrative becomes our self-fulfilling prophecy – the basis of what we expect from ourselves in the future.
Imagine, instead, what your life could be like if you consciously paid attention to your strengths, passions and goals. When you have the same thought repeatedly, it becomes a belief and what’s annoying about that is your brain is wired to look for evidence to make you right. It’s a strange throwback to caveman days when humans needed to be kept safe and stay on alert. So, whether your belief is positive or negative, your brain will try to make that belief true.
Here are some common beliefs that people have, which get in the way of them achieving emotional, financial and physical success:
If you feel that some of your beliefs are blockers to you living the life you really want, the good news is that there are strategies you can implement to adapt how you think. Even the most happy and successful people in the world have to work on this stuff. So, be kind to yourself and carve out some time in your schedule to consider the following four ways to adapt your beliefs:
The world is full of amazing people, so perhaps there are some beliefs you could borrow from them. Some of the greatest writers, CEOs, designers and teachers on this planet do what they do so that you can grow and translate their learning for yourself. Who inspires you? Read a new book, broaden your network and document your new ways of thinking. If you're ready for your next chapter, then this is the perfect time to explore how your beliefs are working for you. Get on it!
– The Coach Place Global
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